Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has pledged to work in harmony with the Rivers House of Assembly to recover lost ground and accelerate social and economic development of the state.
In a televised broadcast on Friday evening, Mr Fubara expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a “fatherly intervention” which restored democratic governance to the state.
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He also acknowledged the role of “his political leader”, Nyesom Wike, alongside the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other stakeholders in sustaining peace.
Mr Fubara described the period of emergency as one of the most challenging moments for the state.
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He said his decision not to contest the presidential declaration was guided by a conviction that no sacrifice was too great for peace in Rivers.
“The president graciously brokered peace during this period, and we all accepted it, though not without the hard lessons learnt, during the emergency rule,” the governor said.
He added that the responsibility now lies with leaders to put aside personal interests and pursue the common good.
The governor also expressed gratitude to the speaker and the Rivers House of Assembly members for their cooperation. He reiterated his commitment to working with the lawmakers in the state’s interest.
He assured his supporters that “not everything is irretrievably lost” and that opportunities remain ahead, while thanking the Rivers people for their resilience, peaceful conduct, and prayers.
“The costly peace is cheaper than the cheapest war,” the governor said, stressing the need to build a more prosperous Rivers State.
Mr Fubara recalled his administration’s achievements before the emergency rule and promised to resume funding for ongoing projects to ensure their completion.
After the six-month emergency rule, the governor returned to the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
He landed at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, at 12:19 p.m. in the company of his wife, the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, the Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, and others. A large crowd, including his former commissioners, local government chairpersons, and other state leaders, received him at the airport.
Background
On 18 March, President Tinubu declared emergency rule in the oil-rich state in the wake of a prolonged political crisis caused by the rift between Mr Fubara and Mr Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The feud had split the state legislature into two factions, with 27 lawmakers loyal to Mr Wike and three to Mr Fubara.
READ ALSO: Why I resisted pressure to challenge Tinubu over emergency rule in Rivers Fubara
Mr Fubara, his deputy, and the legislators were suspended for six months by Mr Tinubu, who appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral, as the sole administrator in the state.
In June, the president brokered a fresh truce between Messrs Wike and Fubara before announcing an end to the emergency rule on Wednesday, 17 September.
